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| Shards of a Broken Heart | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Twelve: past and present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the castle of the northern province - an enraged Damien was standing over the bloody corpses of the guards that had allowed Bethany to escape. Everyone near - knew better than to look at him or speak. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - am surrounded by incompetence!" he shouted - pacing back and forth. "First - these moronic cretins allow her to wander - free as she pleased. Then - she is allowed to sift through important and confidential documentation. Then - to top it all off - she is allowed to escape?" he ranted. He drew his sword and held it to one of his general's neck. "One reason - give me one reason why I shouldn't have all of you killed for this outrage!" he barked. The soldier looked at the enraged prince and closed his eyes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If our death is your desire - nothing I say or that we can say will change any of that. The fact of the matter is - you sought to keep her in a bubble. Had you known her as you said - you would have known that such a thing could not work," he began - the sword pressed closer to his neck. "However - this - changes nothing. You had her once - you will do so again," he added calmly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You think it will be that easy - just find her grab her and drag her back?" he asked in disbelief. The soldier sighed and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Has - any - of what you set out to do - been easy sire? When your father's caravan left this place years ago - you pleaded with him to return so that you could be with her. He dismissed the request - as more important matters of state needed tending. Instead of listening - you plotted. You had your father - mother - and your younger brother killed - so that power would be yours - so that your destiny could be your own," the soldier began. Damien lowered the sword a bit. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know that much - I was there," he muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know - and when the holy wars almost overthrew you - were things easy then? No - but you procured the air of a disreputable scoundrel. The leaders of those zealous sects - mysteriously died - the turmoil was still present - but was no longer a threat to you," the soldier began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is there a reason for this walk down memory lane?" Damien demanded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Only - this - sire. Everything you have done to get here to this point - planting spies - gathering intelligence and information since your quick ascension to power. None has been easy. Complications, setbacks, problems - all popped up to deter you - but did you?" the soldier asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course not," Damien retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then - why panic now? If she has escaped - she will be caught. If she learned something she was not supposed to - she can be made to learn her place. If she believes that she does not want to be with you - alternatives can be set up to change her mind. If - she is the one - the one you said was worth all the pain and sacrifice - how - can any of this - at this point in the game remotely deter you now?" the soldier seriously asked. Damien sighed and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You think - I want her tortured? She was supposed to come to me - want me," he muttered under his breath. The soldier walked over and stood before him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She - will come around. You mustn't lose heart now - not when you are so close to having everything that you ever wanted," the soldier remarked. Damien looked at the soldier and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do what must be done," he stated flatly. The soldier nodded and motioned for the other soldiers present to leave. "What about this Nathan fellow? My spies in Bethany's home say that he never made it there," he asked calmly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A raiding party hit the patrol. There was a fight - all of the soldiers - the ones that were holding him - the ones that attacked - all were dead," the soldier remarked. Damien studied the soldier and scowled. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are holding out," he stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your spy friend - he happened onto the scene - none of the bodies fit the description of Nathan," he replied calmly. Damien glared at him with such intensity that the soldier backed up a step. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He is not only alive - but is at large? And I was not told of this sooner because?" he asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You were - entertaining?" the soldier reminded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I see," Damien muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "After your spy relayed the information to your scouts - he went off to find him. He assured me that he would deal with the problem for you," the soldier continued. Damien sighed and nodded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then I am worrying for nothing. If he was able to deal with those overprotective - paranoid zealots - surely a hunter should prove no challenge," Damien remarked. "None the less - I want no chances being taken. Double all patrols - inform them to report anything out of the ordinary," he added. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'll do that now sire," the soldier replied. He bowed politely as he left the room. Damien sighed and shook his head. Everything was so close to being perfect - as it was destined to be. Yet a voice seemingly whispered at him from the darkest corner of his soul - that some random factor threatened to ruin all of it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He's right - I won't be denied now," he said to himself as he headed to the study of the castle - his only sanctuary from the incompetence and failure that seemed to pop up around him like wild mushrooms. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He motioned for the guards to leave as he entered. He opened the doors - stepped inside and closed the doors - leaning against them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Quite the place you acquired highness," an unfamiliar yet familiar voice remarked. His eyes darted and panned around the room - it was then that he saw someone sitting at a table. "Don't bother calling for the guards - that would be so - unfriendly," the stranger remarked. Damien slowly made his way towards the stranger - whose face was hidden by flickering shadows. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are very bold - or foolish for being here and addressing me as you are," Damien pointed out - slowly drawing his weapon as he walked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Perhaps I am both - or neither," the stranger remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are the one that is vexing me here - aren't you? You are this Nathan fellow I have been hearing so much about," he asked curiously - his eyes scanned the shadows of the room - if Nathan was here - his man couldn't be far behind. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I've been called worse things," Nathan remarked swirling the contents of his chalice around. "But I suppose - Nathan will suffice," he added. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I should thank you - if not for you - Bethany would have surely died," Damien remarked - he looked around more frantically - where was that damnable spy? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Looking for something? Someone perhaps?" Nathan asked - he tossed something in an arching motion. It landed on the floor and rolled into Damien's feet. Damien's eyes widened as he looked at the severed head of his spy. "We crossed paths - a short way from here. Crafty bastard - funny thing - his own poison killed him," Nathan remarked - pouring the contents of the chalice onto the floor. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why are you taking this so personal?" Damien asked - kicking the head aside. "Surely there must be other women more suited to you," he suggested. Nathan quietly laughed as he got up from his chair. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Personal? How about I start from now - and walk this back. You had me set up to be killed by Bethany's parents - for kidnapping her? Then there was the fact that you had Gwen killed. She might have been a trouble maker - but she never deserved that," he began seriously - walking around the table - staying in the shadows. "Then there is the matter of Bethany," he began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She - is not your concern," Damien interrupted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You want to play it that way - so be it. But - I want - to take this back - just a little - bit - further. Kalhorn - the festival of the fire god - remember?" Nathan almost whispered. All color drained from Damien's face. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That was when the royal family tragically perished," Damien replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It was tragic - yet - somehow - you - alone survived," Nathan remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is this going somewhere?" Damien remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "After all this time - you still don?t see it? The forest through the trees," Nathan stated coldly as he stepped out from around the table - and into the light. "Hello - brother," he said with disgust. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nathaniel - I heard rumors of your ghost stirring up trouble all over my kingdom. I thought it was just optimistic peasants," Damien said with a giggle. "How is it that you survived?" he asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Luckily - dinner did not set well with me. I got sick. I was ushered away - by what few loyal retainers were left. They spirited me out of the castle," he remarked coldly - glaring at his brother. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I knew I should have check the bodies - I was just too eager," Damien muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Eager? Insane would be a word more suiting to what you did! How many died so that you could make your precious fantasy? How many lives did you ruin?" Nathaniel demanded. Damien shrugged his shoulders. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Does a giant look back when he steps on a hill of ants? This - is my destiny - and you my dear brother - are just a ghost that should have stayed dead!" he hissed he leaped at his brother - hoping to bisect him in one arching blow. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your madness - will end - here!" Nathaniel hissed. He arched his sword to block the descending blade - then threw a punch that knocked his older brother back. "In the name of Bear Claw - the true king," he continued - kicking Damien up and over the table. "In the name of Lady Saurine - his wife and queen," he continued - smashing his sword at his brother. He rolled out of the way. The sturdy chair that had been where he was shattered. "In the name of Timone - Gregor - Markus - and all of the other monks you and your people murdered," he continued as an almost zealous rage consumed him. Damien jumped and rolled over the table staying clear of his brother. "I - will avenge!" he shouted. The doors to the room busted open. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Kill him!" Damien shouted. Nathaniel glared at the general. Damien looked at the general and then at his brother. "What are you waiting for?" he demanded. Nathaniel pointed his sword at his brother. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nathaniel? You live?" the general asked in modest disbelief. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The poison didn't kill me - so yes - I am quite very much alive," he remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Kill him!" Damien shouted. Some of the archers in the back raised their weapons and aimed at Nathaniel. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hold your fire!" the general ordered. Damien glared at the general. "This is a royal matter. We have no right to interfere," he added seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You know what is funny Damien - I spent so long - running away from who I was that I was almost willing to walk away - forget everything. But you found me and started fucking with my life - all over again," he stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am so sure," Damien muttered as the two circled each other. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The time for talk has passed," Nathaniel hissed as the two savagely attacked each other. Both hopped away from each other - not looking at anything but each other. "You're better than I thought you'd be," he muttered in disgust. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I may have used dubious means to get to the top - but that doesn't mean I stayed there by being weak," Damien reassured. It was then that they were both distracted by commotion amongst the spectators. They watched as two soldiers brought Bethany forward. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sire we - found her - is this a bad time?" a soldier asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is a matter between royal blood - step back," the general replied. Both men looked at her for a moment. Damien saw the way she looked at Nathaniel and then glared at his brother. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will see you die a thousand deaths for this brother!" he hissed. Hearing the threat drained all color from her face. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Brother?" she muttered as the two continued to fight. Paralyzed she watched as the two battled. She saw the look of hatred in Damien's eyes - in Nathan's she saw a look that rivaled his brother's hate - only his looked mixed with hurt. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The fight began to spiral downwards. Both were tired and hurting - both unwilling to yield. The two arched their weapons at each other. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The blades did not touch. The two staggered a few steps then were completely motionless. Bethany watched horrified as Damien jerked his head over to smile at her. Nathan dropped his sword and fell to the floor. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No!" Bethany cried out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be concluded! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||